Laminated midsole and outsole construction



Dec. 21, 1948. l w. wElDNER 2,456,659

LAM'INTED MIDSQLE AND OUTSOLE CONSTRUCTION l Filed Feb. 2o. 1947 INVEN-roR W/LL/AM WEIDNER ORNEY Patented Dec. 21, 1948 LAMINA'rnn MIDsoLE AAND OU'rsoLEe CoNsTRUc'rioNf William Weidner, NeyvifYorltvN. Yj, Application February 20, 1947, Serial No. 729,695

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in shoe construction and more particularly to an improved shoe sole.

A general object of the invention is to provide a shoe sole of enhanced wearing quality, a cushioned walk and a particular object is to improve the construction disclosed in my Patent No. 2,246,480.

Other objects and advantages inherent in the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and which discloses by way of example a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side view of a shoe equipped with a shoe sole according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the shoe sole according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view with a portion broken away; and

Figure 5 is a section taken. along the line 5-'5 of Figure 1.

Although the structure disclosed in my aforesaid Patent No. 2,246,480 has accomplished the general objects intended thereby, it was found that the grooving of the wearing sole somewhat weakened the construction. Furthermore, it was difficult to bond 'the edge stripping securely to the wearing sole.

In. addition, the special machining of the outer sole to provide the groove increased the manufacturing costs.

It is therefore a particular object of the present invention to correct these deficiencies.

In addition the invention has for an object the elimination. of the relatively hard and expensive conventional oak leather sole and in lieu thereof the provision of a laminated construction corn,- prising an outsole and a midsole of less expensive and more flexible material which will give the sole increased wearing qualities, cushioning effect and flexibility.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing the shoe sole according to the invention which is generally indicated at I0 is glued or otherwise attached in the conventional manner to the uppers II of the shoe which is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

The sole itself comprises a blank or midsole I2 which is shaped and dimensioned to conform to the conventional shoe sole. This midsole should be made of resilient and flexible material, such as chrome tan split sole leather, which will provide a firm bond for the edge stripping I3. If desired this blank may also be made of rubber like material but obviously the invention is not limited thereto.

The edge stripping I3 is also made of a resilient and flexible material, preferably a rubber like material, which can be bonded securely to the inner midsole I2 by glueing or cementing or other adhering means. This stripping is bent about the edge of the midsole I2 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing and extends over the marginal portion of the latter. The part of the strip extending over the bottom marginal portion |30, is preferably somewhat thickened and flattened to form part of the wearing surface of the sole as Well hereinafter be explained, whereas the part of the strip bent over the top marginal portion of the midsole is as thin as possible and smoothed down so as to become substantially flush with the top surface of the blank and merge snugly with the uppers II when the sole is attached to the insole I5.

The wearing or outsole I 4 is superimposed upon the midsole I2 within the border defined by the bottom marginal portion I3a of the stripping I3 and when said outsole is glued or cemented to the midsole or blank I2, a waterproof bond is formed therebetween. This outsole should be made of relatively stiff material possessing good wearing qualities, preferably leather such as good quality chrome tan split sole leather. The thickness of the sole I4 should be the same as that of the marginal portion I3a so that the sole in cornbination therewith Will form a smooth even wearing surface.

The shoe sole construction thus described may be cemented or glued to the insole I 5. However, by reason of the fact that the outsole I4 is made of leather-like material, the sole may also be stitched to the insole as shown in Figure 5.

When the combination of rubber and leather in the laminated sole is used, it eliminates the suction which is characteristic of an all-rubber sole but at the same time it adds the cushioning effect to the otherwise non-resilient leather sole.

The appearince of the shoe may be enhanced by giving the edge stripping I3 a color contrasting with the color of the other parts of the shoe.

In the embodiment shown, the edge stripping I3 surrounds the entire edge of the midsole I2, but it will be understood that the purpose of the invention might be accomplished by providing only the forepart, for instance, with such stripping. In such case, of course, the outsole M should register with the blank I2 Where 'siih edge stripping is not provided.

It should also be understood that this invention is given by way of example and not by way of limitation. On the other hand, the invention lends itself to a variety of expressions Within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A laminated shoe sole construction comprising a mid sole, 'a stripping of rubber-like materiaI engaging about the marginal edge of said midsolek and extending over the bottom surface thereof so as to form the outmargnal portion of the Wearing surface, and an outer sole superimposed upon the undersurface of said midsole Within said outer marginal portion of said` edge stripping, said outer sole being substantially flush with said outer marginal portion so as to form together therewith a substantially even Wearing surface.

WILLIAM WEIDNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date `1,017,676 Knipp Feb. 20, 1912 1,318,247 Victor Oct. 7, 1919 2,246,480 Weidner Jun. 17, 1941 

